Team Sahlen had a very large fan base cheering them on all weekend at the Diamond Cellar Classic event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.  The team was riding high from the momentum from the season best 4^th place finish at Detroit 2 weeks prior.  And from the very start of the weekend, Team Sahlen showed they were serious about the Mid-Ohio race by setting the 4^th fastest time in session #1 and 3^rd fastest in session #3. 

“On Monday before the race, Team Sahlen went over to Pittsburgh International Race Complex to get a little driver seat time.  It was great, I had not been in the Daytona Prototype since Daytona.  So just getting re-acclimated to driving one of these beasts was worth the effort.” – shared Joe Sahlen

Added Team Manager Jay Chapman - “We were showing good pace.  But leading up to the race, we had a couple of minor mechanical issues on both the #42 – Mustard and #43 – Ketchup racers such as broken shock and sheared clutch put us behind in a couple of sessions.  But I am really proud of the crew for digging in and solving the issues at hand.”

Starting 10^th and 12^th, Team Sahlen looked set to make a charge at the drop of the green flag.  Unfortunately, Joe Nonnamaker in the #43 machine was hit from behind in Turn 6 and planted in the sand trap.  These early yellow flag laps saw both Team Sahlen DPs pit for fuel and tires.  A change in pit exit rules saw Team Sahlen face a stop and go penalty on both the #42 and #43. 

But Team Sahlen did not give up despite losing a lap on the field, and the #42 was fortunate with a well timed yellow to get their lap back on the field.   After this yellow at the 1 hour mark, there were no more full course cautions through the remainder of the race.  After getting on the lead lap, Dane Cameron fought hard on track and secured an 8^th place finish.   Will Nonnamaker brought the other Team Sahlen entry home in 12^th place,  the race for the 5^th straight finish for the #43 BMW powered Daytona Prototype.

“Coming off of our first top 5 in Detroit, finishing 8th at Mid-Ohio certainly wasn't what we had hoped for. We had a penalty put us a lap down early and while we were able to get back on the lead lap without another yellow we were unable to get caught up to the pack and mix it up. We had a quick car again this weekend but to run upfront in grand am DP everything has to go to plan and unfortunately mid Ohio wasn't one of those days.” – Shared Dane Cameron

Team Sahlen currently is in 8^th and 12^th in the Team Championship in the 1^st year for entering the Daytona Prototype Class.  Additionally Wayne Nonnamaker retains his lead in the Jim Trueman Sportsman Standings over Alex Popow. Will & Joe Nonnamaker continue to hold down 3^rd and 4^th in the standings respectively. 

The next event for Team Sahlen will be the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen held at Watkins Glen International.  The Six Hour event will be held on June 30^th, starting at 11 am.  The race will be televised live on SPEED TV

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series is supported by:

BMW Motorsports, Dinan Engineering, Design Engineering Inc, Penske Shocks, EMCO Gears, Racing Print Media, Mothers Polish, TheRaceSite.com, PFC Brakes, Classic Motorsports Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, BBS Wheels, and Hella Lights